Gulf War illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom diagnosis that affects approximately one in four Veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991. In our clinic a common complaint is cognitive problems where, 88% of GWI Veterans have complained of cognitive deficits that are impactful in their life. Furthermore, when asked about difficulty in "concentrating" or "remembering recent information," more than 75% of Veterans scored these areas as being moderate to severe problems in their daily life.

Thus, we designed this study to explore the root cause of these cognitive problems. The origin of the cognitive problems has been under debate and to date remains unknown. Here, we will test the possibility that blood flow to the brain is impaired in Veterans with concentration and memory problems. In the normal aging process, these same problems are also common (lack of concentration and trouble remembering). Recently, it has been found that the memory problems in the elderly may be from a lack of blood flow to the brain. The brain can be thought of as a muscle during exercise, when activity of a muscle (or in this case the brain) increases, blood flow must increase to meet the demand of activity. If blood flow does not increase, then the increase in activity cannot be met and this results in reduced performance. In the case of the brain, this might present as trouble concentrating and/or remembering certain things.

This proposal will attempt to answer two basic questions: (1) Are the cognitive problems related to GWI due to a lack of blood flow in the brain? (2) Can we improve this blood flow by giving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin), which may improve the ability of blood vessels to dilate in the brain? By answering these questions, we will better understand the cognitive problems Veterans with GWI have and will develop a clinical trial using this new information to begin treatment plans.